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Call for Coaches

Now accepting coaching applications for 2017 season

Updated Tuesday November 15, 2016 by Kanata Baseball Association.

The Major League Baseball playoffs are well underway and the Jays have advanced to the AL Championship Series! Kanata Baseball is well into preparations for the 2017 baseball program.

We have an immediate need for coaches at both the recreational and competitive levels and I would like you to consider volunteering! 

As a parent, I want my son (and daughters if I had any) to have the best baseball experience possible. I'm certain you're the same. Having a group of 2 or 3 dedicated parents to coach a team makes a huge difference in every kids' experience. Kanata Baseball wants to give all interested - experienced or not - a chance to become a great coach.

Kanata Baseball has an immediate need for Rep coaches at all levels - coaches willing to be trained and meet provincially mandated qualifications - to lead upcoming tryouts, perform team selections, and coach their team into the 2017 season.

 

I know you have questions... hopefully this answers some of them:

Where do coaches for Kanata Baseball come from?

Our coaches are all volunteers - the majority start out coaching because their child was involved in baseball at some level and the team needed a volunteer. Coaches need not be from Kanata/Stittsville/Dunrobin/Richmond/Munster area. Anyone with the desire and time to coach youth are welcome to apply.

How much experience does someone need to volunteer as a coach?

For House teams, in effect, none. The younger the age group, the less experience is truly needed. The ability to communicate with the players, to engage their interest, and to motivate them is more important than having "baseball knowledge". The coaches are often learning as much as the players and grow their skills as a leader at a similar pace that the kids grow as athletes. Kanata Baseball has many examples of first time coaches that have grown with their kid(s) through the years and developed into high-calibre competitive coaches.

Rep coaches must meet provincially mandated coaching requirements - a series of courses offered by Baseball Canada through the National Coaches Certification Program (NCCP).

How much extra time does it take?

That really depends on you. Less experienced coaches tend to take more time researching drills for pre-game warm-ups and practices. In general, preparing line-ups for a game take anywhere from 10-30 minutes. Preparing for a practice can take 15-45 minutes (but the coaching materials will have some prepared practices for you to execute.) The more volunteers for a team, the more tasks can be divided, reducing each individuals' time demands.

What is Kanata Baseball doing to make coaches better?

Every volunteer is given several oportunities to grow their coaching skills. 

  • A pre-season clinic focused on Little League Canada's "Teaching for Tomorrow" series of instructional materials written by Coach Al Herback, formerly Little League Canada's Head-Coach.
  • A copy of the "Teaching for Tomorrow" guide appropriate for the team's age group.
  • A $35 credit to be used towards the National Coaching Certification Program's (NCCP) "Online Initiation Module" - the first course in the "Community Coach" certification which is also a pre-requisite for all NCCP classroom sessions.
  • Rep coaches are invited to attend a National Coaching Clinic in January (either the Blue Jays Academy National Coaching Clinic or the OBA's Best Ever Clinic) at a discount.
  • A pre-season Coaches meeting where all coaches gather, ask questions, and are generally prepared for the season to come.
  • Additional NCCP training courses - for hitting, pitching, fielding, strategies, etc. -  will be hosted by Kanata Baseball.

What if the kids don't listen to me?

They will. You need to remember that you're not on your own. You've volunteered to lead the team. The parents have paid to have their kids on a team. Hold a "first meeting" with players and parents to describe your expectations - with the biggest being "respect". Involve as many parents as possible on your team - given some authority, most parents will not tolerate misbehaviour any more than you do and you can be left to manage the team's play instead of behaviour.

How do I volunteer?

Raising your hand is easy! Simply visit https://www.kllba.ca and click on the "Coach Registration" link down the left hand side of the page.

If you already have a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) number, please include it with your registration.

What opportunities are there for a competitive coach?

Kanata Baseball executed a successful Rep program for kids aged 10+. House players also formed All-Star or Select teams for Tournament competition in the Summer.

If interested in coaching a competitive team, whether Rep or Select, please submit a short application to [email protected] by November 15th, 2016, that includes:

  • desired level to coach (age group),
  • describe any coaching experience,
  • a transcript of NCCP courses taken,
  • and a short description of why you want to coach a competitive team.

Coaches will be interviewed by the Selection committee in late November/early December. The selection committee will name selected coaches where possible on or about December 15, 2015 per the Kanata Baseball constitution.

 

Looking forward to hearing from many of you,

Robert Turcotte

VP Baseball Operations
Kanata Baseball

P.S.  I know there are many great coaches out there - I don't personally know all of you. Please don't wait to be asked next spring. Let me know who you are today - go to www.kllba.ca and register yourself as a coach by clicking the red box below the menu on the left-hand side of the page. Volunteering early will let you take advantage of the tools and training Kanata Baseball has to offer long before you need them facing a team on the field.

 

 

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